Portable dummy for athletic training



Nov. 6, 1951 R. F. LOGAN 2,574,046

PORTABLE DUMMY FOR ATHLETIC TRAINING Original. Filed May 10, 1950 2 SHEETS -SHEET 1 ROLAND Joe/w,

IN VEN TOR.

147' TOAQA/EK Nov. 6, 1951 LOGAN Q 2,574,046

PORTABLE 'DUMMY FOR ATHLETIC TRAINING Original Filed May 10, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 ROLAND LOG/41V,

IN V EN TOR.

A T TOQNEY.

Patented Nov. 6, 1951 PORTABLE DUMMY FOR ATHLETIC TRAININ G Roland F. Logan, Los Angeles, Calif. Continuation of application Serial No. 161,230,

filed May 10, 1950.

This application filed January 13,1951, Serial No. 205,855

This invention relates to'athletic training 'de vices, and more particularly to an improved portand fiat edges, and have proved awkward and unwieldly for the defense player to handle. Further, the weight of the dummies has been excessive, which fact, together with the shape of the dummy limited the maneuverability of the player carrying the device, and thus the training achieved by use of the dummy has not been of maximum effectiveness.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an improved training dummy which is formedon one side with a concave surface to fit the body contour between the knees and head of a defensive player in partially crouched position in order that the force'of the opponent may be partly absorbed and distributed over an increased portion of the defensive players body.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved training dummy adapted to be held by a defensive player which is provided with a convex surface against which the offensive player may dissipate the force of his attack without injury to either the defensive or offensive player.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved training dummy formed of resilient material which is provided with spaced apart faces that have a generally, elliptical shaped contour.

Another object of the inventionis to provide arr-improved training dummy having the characteristics as above enumerated which is provided with a protective covering and an interiorly'positioned resilient air impervious bagthat is equipped with a filling tube and valve by means of which the bag may be inflated and deflated.

Another object of the invention is to provide an-improved inflated training dummy which is light in weight and readily movable by a defensive player holding the dummy so that the player may quickly maneuver into a defensive position to counter the attack of an offensive player.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved inflated training dummy provided with a flexible waterproof covering formed of heavy'textile or plastic material which is adapt ed to withstand hard usage during the training offootball players: 1 I F w 2 Another object of the invention is to provid an improved inflated training dummy having spaced apart forward and rear faces and a concavely shaped edging or wall extending between said forward and rear faces.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a training dummy which is provided with handle grips adjacent to each side thereof that are shielded by gaunlet type protectors which extend over said handles having an opening which is directed toward the concave face of'th training device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved handle grips on a training'device that have a protective layer of soft flexible materal positioned both above and below said handles to serve as cushioning means to protect the hands of the user against blows and abrasion.

The invention also resides in certain novel structural characteristics which facilitate the carrying out of the foregoing objects and which contribute both to the simplicity of the improved athletic training device and its ruggeddness of construction, as well as to its convenience in use.

This invention contemplates an improved training dummy having a flexible wear resistant covering or container shaped when expanded to a desired concave contour having outer smoothly merging curved surfaces. The covering includes anelliptical front wall, an elliptical rear wall having a major axis of greater length than the major axis of the front'wall and a pair of interconnecting peripheral side panels of virtually partial circular form in plan, the inner edge of each panel corresponding in length to the peripheral distance between points of intersection of the major axis of the front wallwith said edge, and the outer edge having a length likewise related to the peripheral distance of the corresponding edge portion of the rear panel. Opposite end edges of each side panel are convexly curved. When the covering is expanded, the front and rear walls are joined by'the side panels ina continuous convexly curved surface smoothly merging with adjacent marginal portions of the Walls.

This application is a continuation of my application Serial Number 16l,230 filed May 10, 1950,

now abandoned. I

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accom panying drawings'in which:

Fig.- 1 is a perspective view showing the improved training dummy held by a playerin defensive position to block the attack of an offensive player.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the concave face of the training dummy.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the training dummy shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is; a cross-sectional view taken on, line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view disclosing one of the handle members positioned on a, side of the:

training dummy.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view disclosing the fillingtube and valve for an air bag positioned within the covering member of the training'dumm-y.

Fig. 8 is an exploded plan view of the several patterns forming the walls, side panels, and handle gauntlets of the covering, the smaller front;

wall panel being superposed on the larger rear panel;

While this invention is susceptible. of various modifications and constructions, I have shown, in the drawingspand will herein describe. detail the preferredembodiment. It is to. be under.- stood; that I do not intend tolimit the invention by suchdisclosure and I- aimto cover all modifications and; alternative construction;falling within the scopeandspirit ofthe, invention asdefinecl nt appe edic-la Refe rin to. F ethe: efe ence numeral. 0

indicates the improved portable dummy having t e, characteristicsof my. invention being: held in position bya defensive player [2 toprotect himself and to absorb a portion of the force ofthe charging offensive player indicated by reference numeral M. Itwill be noted that the defensive player l2 has'shifted thebulk of hisweight to'his rearwardly: placed right leg, hasinclined 'hisbody forwardly and lowered his head to resist. and bracehimself against theanticipated force of; the oncomingplayer I 4. Thus from-kneeto headthe body'of the-player IZ-presents a general arcuate surfaceagainst which the portable dummy in is held-and virtually corresponds to in curvature as indioated'in Fig. 1.

Theportable dummy ID, as is'best shown,- in Figs. 2 and 3, is formed with agenerally elliptical shaped body member with the elongated portion of the: dummy extending along the major axis of the ellipse. The portable dummy-is provided with a forward face I6 which, faces outwardly-or in. the direction of the offensive player whenthe training device is held in a protectiveposition by the defensive player l2. The oppositeside or rear face It; ofthe portable dummy is formed with a convexlycurved surface inorder'tha-t it may virtually-fit the-concave body contourof: the defensive player when he assumes a partially crouchedposition, as is shownin Fig; 1. A pe ripheral edging or side wall 20 is positioned be;- tween the spaced, apart convexand-concavefaces of the training device,- and this peripheral wall'is formed; with a concavely curved surface to present a smoothly curved transition between the forward and rear sides of the training dummy. Itwill be noted that the concave and convex faces of; the dummy extend-substantially parallel to each other throughout their areuate lengths udl a e; p sitionedv in. spaced. p rt r l ion hip- Inthe; manufacture of-the' training device, a lare e v over n of; t ugh textile, p astic,- or other flexible and waterprootmaterialis preferabiy c stru ted with a front; panel m mbenfl orming-s ile. f e a d: face; of; the: covering. ands panel member 24 forming the rear face l8 of the training device. Both the panels 22 and 24 have a generally elliptical contour and may be stitched or otherwise secured along their peripheral edges to form the enclosure or covering of the training device.

An exemplary manner of constructing the casing orcovering is shown from patterns in plan view detailed in Fig. 8. The front wall panel member 22 is formed of elliptical shape, the longer axis of the panelbeing the axis normally disposed vertically when the training dummy is being used.

A rear wall panel member 24 is likewise formed of elliptical shape with the minor axis virtually the same length as that of the front wall 22. The major axisofjthe rear wall 24 is substantially longer thanthat of the front wall 22. lhe front and rear walls 22 and 24 may be symmetrically disposed, the points of intersection of their major and minor axes lying along a line perpendicular tosaid ax s a aid-poin s f: int r ec ion. Ea panel; M ami: 25. presents a continuous elliptical peripheral edge.

Two side wall panels 28 and 2.8;. of virtually identical circular ring sector configuration, and of virtuallyuniform idth serve tointer-connect edgesof the front. andrear. panels asby inward.- ly directed. seams. secured by stitching. in. well,- knownmanner. Opposite ends of .eachpanel .26 and 2B. are provided with convex edgesiand-opr posed nanel nd edges. are. likewi ec redasby nw r ly, directed. seam .'I!he.,s de.-.panel1s. con: n c ed, Q.,each..other along. convex edges. pro.- ride, when he cas ng s. xpat:dad;v a convex peripheral. ed e. whichsm othlyj mer e withadiacent. marginal porti ns. f he, fr nt and; r a walls. A casing is thus provided which will readily ume. he. d sired concave hape wi hou h p en e of, fol s or. irregu ar t es, thr ughout. he n ir r zac of. h a ing w ich m y result in injury to a player; or damage to, thetraining dummy.

While it is contemplated that any suitable lightweight resilient material'suchas, for example, excelsior, cotton, or foam. rubber maybe positioned within the protection covering of the training dummy, in the preferred embodiment of my invention, provision. is, made for inflating the training dummy withair or" other suitablegas. Inorder that this'may'be accomplisheda flexible thin walled resilient gas-impervious bag 30', which is best shown in Figs. 4- and G, is positioned and retained with the protective covering; The; air bag 30 may comprise an annular; tubular member preferably formedof rubberas; for example; a vehicle tire-tube. The annular member'may be folded about a diameter so that generally opposed portions of the member lie in side-by-side relationship and-generally approximates a semi-circle whenviewed-from the-side.

When the air bag has been folded and posi+ tionedwithin the dummy and the covering closed by-stitch-ingor the'like, the adjacent Walls of the tubular'air-bag-will'be positioned upon inflation of the bag in substantialcontact with each other as shown in Fig. 4, and the'training device'will assume the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The air bag is inflated with air or other gas under sufficient pressure to. maintain the shape of the trainingv device and to provide force absorbing resilient. surfaces. Pressures in: the vicinity of one-pound per square-inch have been found 'satis, factory but either higher or lower pressures may be employed withoutdeparting from the: scope of invention; l

The resilient air bag 30 is providedzwitha-fiex gmgm "ible fillertube 32, air ya-l'vef and filler tube closure cap *34=-w hereby the bagfmay be' inflated or defiatedj 'l'hetr'ri'iinalend of the filler tube 32 may beremoved through a slit-type aperture 36 in the protective covering of the training dummy l5.

"removalof the'flller tube terminal, a strap 40 is preferablyattached to the filler tube which may se reamy grasped by the user" reaching through aperture.

Protected handle members 42 are positioned adjacent to each of the sides of the training dummy and at a selected point of balance. As best shown in Figs. and 6, the handles comprise elongated strap members which are secured at each end in suitable manner to the protective covering of the dummy. In order to shield the hands of the player holding the dummy against blows or abrasion, a gauntlet type shield 44 is positioned to extend over and to enclose each of the handle members. The shields 44 are formed in the general nature of a pocket with sides 58, 5|, and 52 (Fig. 8) secured to the covering and the opening thereof is directed towards the convex face I8 of the training dummy so that a player holding the training device may readily in sert his hands into the gauntlet and grasp the handle member or grip 42. In order to provide additional protection to the hands of the player, the interior surface of the gauntlet type shield 44 is provided with a layer 46 of padding material and another layer of protective material 48 is secured on the surface of the training dummy beneath each of the handle members. The layers of protective material 46 and 48 preferably consist of moleskin, although other soft, durable materials, such as felt, sponge rubber and the like, may be employed.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that the training dummy of my invention is light in weight and easily maneuvered due to its convenient shape by the defensive player to counter the attack of an offensive player. The portable dummy serves as a buffer between the defensive and offensive players to absorb the forces without injury to either player. Due to the curvature of the training device, the concave face thereof readily fits the contour between the knee and head of a blocking player, and the shielded handles give protection to the hands of the player holding the device. In deflated condition, the portable dummy may be stored or transported in a minimum of space and may be quickly inflated when it is desired to place the device in service.

I claim:

1. In an easily maneuverable light-weight smooth surfaced, portable training dummy, the combination of: an outer casing comprising an elliptical front wall and an elliptical rear wall spaced from the front wall, the major axis of the rear wall being of greater length than the major axis of the front wall, the minor axes being of virtually the same length, the points of intersection of the major and minor axes of said front and rear elliptical walls lying on a common straight line perpendicular to said axes at the points of intersection; a pair of circular ring sector side wall portions of virtually uniform width interconnecting peripheral edges of the front and rear walls, said side wall portions having convex end edges joined together; an annular pneumatic tube folded about a diameter and received and retained in folded position within said casing;

handle members carried by the side wall portions on opposite sides of the casing adjacent the balance point of the dummy; and flexible shielding element's enclosing said handle members and side -'wall portions adjacent thereto,each shielding ele- -ment having a rearwardlydirected opening for access to the enclosed handle. r I 2. In an easily r 'aneuverable light-weight smooth surfaced, portable training dummy, the

combination-of: an outer casing comprising an elliptical front 'wall and an elliptical rear wall, the major axis of the rear wall being of greater "length than the major axis of the front wall,

said front and rear walls being symmetrically arranged'with'respectto eachother; a pair of circular ring sector side walls of virtually uniform width interconnecting peripheral edges of the front and rear walls, said side walls having convex end edges joined together'; an annular pneumatic tube folded about a diameter and received and retained in folded position within said casing; and handle members carried by the side walls on opposite sides of the casing adjacent the balance point of the dummy.

3. An inflatable training dummy comprising in combination, an elongated closed covering member formed of flexible material and having a generally elliptical shaped contour, said covering member being provided with substantially parallel faces positioned in spaced relationship to each other, said faces being curved along the major axis of the elliptical shaped covering, and an annular air bag formed of resilient, gas impervious material positioned within said covering member with opposite wall portions of the annular bag folded upon themselves and positioned within the curved sections on said major axis of the el Iiptical shaped covering.

4. In an easily maneuverable light-weight smooth surfaced, portable training dummy, the combination of an outer casing comprising an elliptical front wall and an elliptical rear wall, the major axis of the rear wall being of greater length than the major axis of the front wall, said front and rear walls being symmetrically arranged with respect to each other; arcuate sectorshaped side walls of virtually uniform width interconnecting peripheral edges of the front and rear walls, said side walls having convex end edges joined together; an annular pneumatic tube folded about a diameter and received and retained in folded position within said casing; and handle members carried by the side walls on opposite sides of the casing adjacent the balance point of the dummy.

5. An inflatable dummy for athletic training comprising in combination, an elongated closed covering member formed of flexible material and having a generally elliptical shaped contour, said covering member having a convex face on one side thereof anda concave face positioned in spaced relationship thereto on the opposite side thereof, and an annular pneumatic tube folded about a diameter and inflated within the covering member to hold said coverin member under tension to stretch and smooth said convex-and concave faces.

6. An inflatable, portable training dummy comprising: a casing made of flexible, pliant material and including a front elliptical face member, a rear elliptical face member, said rear member being longer along its major axis than the front face member, and side wall portions connecting n r nheraijedg s o he front and; ear; face hers, said; side wall; pqlitions being arcuate when fanannular pneumatic tube folded about a. di-

ameten and inflated within the casingto hold the side walls and face members-under tension.

'7. A portable training dummy of the character; stated-in claim 6, including aplurality ofsaid side wall portions, end edges ofsaid side wall portions bein convexwhen in, flat, extended form adjacent, endsof such side wall portions being; connected tosaid end edges, whereby said side walls' assumea curved form when the inner,

8. A portable training dummy of, the character s ated in c a m fi nc udins ha dl -members ai ried, bythe side; walls virtuallypamllelz; to, the

eior ax s he f;ron. t 'a d1r s ;m mb s ROLAND- REFERENCES CITED The following IGfBI'GDCeSflJte: ofiirecordin the file of this patent? UNITED STATES: PATE TS- Number Name Date 876,237 Ridlon h Jan, 7,.1998 71,361,453 Frey e r e .r .Decih1g2! 1,891 491 Anderson -Decz. 20,1932 2,199,047 Fisher Anew- 1959 2, 203359 Gnman- 5,. -v- June. 4 1:

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